Tag Archives: cassia tree

Rain kissed garden

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According to the local news, Southwest Florida is experiencing its greatest drought in 8 years!

It was such a welcome sound to hear the rain coming down this morning, kissing the garden. It did not come down long, but it was an awesome downpour. With the overcast sky, the ground hopefully will stay wet for a while, giving the roots time to soak up the much needed moisture.

Here’s just a few of the butterfly nectar plants.

Zinnia
Penta
Starry rosinweed
Fire bush

The orange-barred sulphur caterpillars were also active on my cassia tree. There are tons yet again munching away.

Busy beauty

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The orange barred sulphur butterflies have been super busy in the garden the last few days. This one continuously stopped and deposited eggs on my bahama cassia tree, which will soon be crawling with caterpillars.

They are back

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To my great surprise, I found a dozen orange barred sulphur caterpillars in the garden this morning. They are all quite big, so I have missed them for quite a while on my cassia tree. I am beyond thrilled because this is the first time the orange barred sulphur has returned to my garden since Hurricane Ian. I was shocked as I never saw the butterfly visit the garden. Cannot wait for them to make their chrysalis!

Finally bloomed

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My cassia tree is finally blooming, a brilliant shade of yellow. This is a host plant for the sulphur butterflies. I sure hope they return to the garden and lay some eggs.

My second cassia tree took a bit of a beating from Hurricane Ian. Thankfully that one has already produced an abundance of new leaves.

My Sunshine returned

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The cloudless sulphur, phoebis sennae, has been one of the most challenging butterflies to photograph in the garden. Today I was able to capture a few good photos of her laying eggs on my cassia tree.

I read that under the yellow scales of their wings, hides a yellow-green layer of scales.

The caterpillars will eat leaves from both the cassia, and senna plants, both members of the pea family. I have noticed that the caterpillars change colors throughout their instars, which I read is dependent on the color of leaves, blooms they eat. If the leaves are green, the caterpillar is dominantly green. If the consume yellow blooms they change to that color.

Although her face is a little out of focus, you can spot the egg she is depositing.
The cloudless sulphur blends well with the cassia tree. She is pretty much the same color as the dying leaves in the background.